Disappearing punch

ABSTRACT

The invention relates to a punching device for punching notches in the edge of a card or the like. The punch is mounted in a housing and is moveable from a retracted position within the housing to an operating position to punch a notch in the edge of a card adjacent an outside surface of the housing. The punch may comprise a member which pivots downwardly from the retracted position to the operating position over an upper edge of the card.

PATENTEDAUB 1912 I I Q 0 INVESTOR JOHN H. LANAHAN DISAPPEARING PUNCHBACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a punching device.More particularly, the invention relates to a device for punching anotch in the edge of a card, sheet or the like.

Edge notched cards which are useful in information retrieval systems arewell known. A typical system is described in copending application Ser.No. 811,826 the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.Various cards, such as data processing, microfilm, aperture,microfilche, magnetic faced, address, and the like can be used.

It is frequently desirable to provide one or more notches in the edge ofsuch cards. For example, edge notches may assist in the mechanicalselection of certain cards having certain desired information from astack of cards. In another instance, an edge notch may be used to assistin the physical movement of such cards. Edge notches serving both ofthese functions are disclosed in co-pending application Ser. No.811,826. In most instances it is desirable to provide a notch at aprecise location on an edge and information conceming its location maybe printed at or near the edge. For example, the edge may bear indiciaindicating oneor more locations to be punched. The punching mechanismscommonly employed obscure the edge of the card thus rendering theobscured area essentially useless for the purpose of indicating areas tobe punched. Thus, an area of the card which is ostensibly suitable forcarrying information related to the location of notches in that edge isnot useful for that purpose.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an edge-notchingdevice in which the area of the card adjacent the edge to be punched isnot obscured by the device thus enabling that area of the card to beuseful for providing indicia relating to the location of a notch ornotches therein.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An edge notching device for punchingnotches in an edge of a card according to the invention comprises ahousing, means for holding a card in an operable position adjacent anouter surface of said housing, a punch moveable between a retractedposition within said housing and a punching position adjacent an edge ofsaid card, means for actuating the punch in said punching position tonotch the edge of a card held in said fixed position, and means formoving the punch between said retracted and punching positions. Thedevice conveniently includes cam means for sequentially moving the punchinto its operating position, actuating said punch, and moving the punchinto its retracted position. The punch is preferably pivotably mountedin the housing.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION There follows a detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment of the present invention, togetherwith accompanying drawings. However, it is to be understood that thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings are provided solelyfor the purpose of illustrating a preferred embodiment, and that theinvention is capable of numerous modifications and variations apparentto those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scopeof the invention.

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view of an apparatus constructed inaccordance with the features of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of an apparatus according to the presentinvention; and

FIG. 3 shows a preferred shape of notch formed in a card.

With reference to FIG. 1, a card 1 having an upper edge 2 to be notchedis located adjacent the outer surface of a housing, not shown, in whichthe illustrated punching mechanism is located. The housing is shown inFIG. 2 and has been omitted from FIG. 1 for clarity. The punch comprisesan elongate die member 3 and a cooperating punch member 4 moveabletogether from a retracted position within the housing into an operatingposition, shown in FIG. 1, in which the punch is in position to put anotch in edge 2 of card 1. The punch member 4 is moveable in a cavity 5provided in die member 3 and the punch and die are of conventionalconfiguration. The punch member is biased outwardly by a spring 6 actingagainst the bottom of cavity 5. Outward movement of punch member 4 islimited by means of pin 7 secured to punch member 4 which rides in aslot 8 in die member 3. Outward motion of punch member 4 is limited byengagement of pin 7 with the forward end of slot 8 under the influenceof spring 6. The punch is actuated by arm 9 pivotally mounted in thehousing for pivoting about spigot 10 fixed with respect to the housingand of conventional construction. The top portion of arm 9 is moveablefrom the position shown in the drawing rearwardly to actuate the punchto provide a notch in the top edge 2 of card 1.

Die member 3 is pivotally mounted on spigot 11 fixed with respect to thehousing and of conventional type. The die member 3 is held in operatingposition by engagement with a support member, such as member 12, whichis fixed relative to the housing, and by engagement of a cam 13 and camfollower l4 fixed to die member 3. Spigots l0 and 11 are convenientlymounted on support member 12. A spring 1 l urges the die member 3upwardly and upward pivotal motion is limited by engagement of camfollower 14 with cam surface 16 of cam 13. Cam 13 is rotated by means ofdrive shaft 17 of motor 18 operating cam shaft 19 when cam follower 14engages low portion 23, die

member 3 pivots upwardly about pivot l 1 under the influence of spring11. The upward motion of die member 3 is conveniently limited byengagement of cam follower 14 and surface 23 of cam 13, or by providinga stop (not shown) in the housing. In any event, the punch pivotsupwardly a distance to retract the punch into the housing such that thepunch assembly is located behind the housing surface to which card 1 isadjacent, and the upper edge 2 of card 1 is unobstructed. Furtherrotation of cam 13 will bring raised portion 22 of cam surface 16 intoengagement with cam follower 14 causing die member 3 to pivot downwardlyfrom its retracted position to the operating position shown in FIG. 1.

Arm is moveable in the position shown in FIG. 1 under the influence ofcam follower 24 engaging cam surface 16 of cam 13. Upon engagement withraised portion 22 of cam surface 16, the upper end of arm 10 is movedrearwardly which actuates punch member 4 in die member 3 to notch theupper edge 2 of card 1. Upon further rotation of cam 13, earn follower24 will engage a lower portion of cam surface 16 thus allowing punchmember 4 to move into the position shown in FIG. 1 in position to placea notch in a card edge.

The device is operated as follows: with die member 3 in retractedposition, a card 1 is placed with its upper edge 2 in a position to benotched adjacent a surface of a housing for thedevice. Since the punchis retracted, the area adjacent the edge is unobstructed and indiciathereon can be used to locate the card relative to the punch such thatthe precise location to be punched is properly positioned. At thispoint, cam follower 14 is adjacent low portion 23 of surface 16 of cam13, and cam follower 24 is disengaged from high portion 22 of camsurface 16 with punch member 4 fully extended in die member 3. To begina punching cycle, cam 13 is rotated counter clockwise in the sense ofFIG. 1 by means of motor 18 causing cam follower 14 to move rearwardlythus causing die member to pivot downwardly into the position shown inFIG. 1 with upper edge 2 of card I inserted between the active edges ofthe punch and die members. Continued rotation of cam 13 causes arm 10 topivot which actuates punch member 4 in die member 3 to notch the edge 2of card 1. Further rotation of cam 13 causes retraction of the punchinto the housing and extension of the punch member 4 thus completing acycle. Motor 18 is conveniently controlled by a timer or switchpermitting one cycle of operation such as by permitting one revolutionof cam 13.

With reference to FIG. 2, the punching device described above isprovided within a housing which is conveniently mounted adjacent orintegral with a keyboard unit 26 to be described hereinafter. Thepunching device housing includes a surface 27 for holding the card insuch a manner to present an edge 28 of a card to be notched. In thisinstance the card is held in a longitudinal slot formed between elongatemember 29 the upper portion of which is spaced outwardly from surface 27thus forming the slot. The punch and die members are pivotable intooperating position through aperture 30 provided in surface 27 of thedevice and operate to punch a notch in the upper edge 28 of the card inthe manner described above. The punch cycle is conveniently actuated bya key 31 on keyboard unit 26 mounted below the housing supporting thepunch device. Keyboard 26 is conventional in structure and key 31actuates an electric switch to activate electric motor 18 of thepunching device in a known manner.

The keyboard conveniently includes a plurality of additional keys whichactuate one or more punches engaging the lower edge of the card behindplate 29. These punches are preferably actuated by main key 32 whichenergizes the lower punches. In one embodiment, there are fivesolenoid-actuated punches which move stepwise longitudinally of the cardin five adjacent areas along its lower edge. There are eleven steps ineach area thus providing a total of 55 notch locations along the bottomedge. These notches are preferably generally circular in configurationas shown in FIG. 3, a circular opening 33 being larger than asemicircle, preferably from 20 to 80 percent larger, and smaller than afull circle, preferably 10 to 40 percent smaller. The notches to be madeon the bottom of the card are then made by depressing numbered keys 35on the keyboard which can be of conventional configuration. In additionto numbered keys 35, the keyboard is provided with keys 36 to channel akeyed number to the appropriate punch solenoid to code the proper areaof the edge. The keyboard is conveniently provided with a mechanical orelectrical read out display 34 to permit the operator to verify thekeyed code prior to actuating the punches. The proper code isdisplayedby actuating numbered keys 35 and, after verification, the card ispunched by pressing main actuating key 32.

As shown in FIG. 2, the housing of the punch device includes a surfacehaving a generally planar area adjacent which the card is placed foroperation of the disappearing punch. The housing includes means to holdthe card with an edge in position to be notched in a certain location bythe disappearing punch. In the usual case, the card will be held at anangle to the horizontal so that an operator can easily visualize thecard. Where the card is so inclined, it is preferred that the punchingdevice is operable to punch the top edge of the card and, to v this end,the punch is moveable generally downwardly from its retracted positioninto its operating position in adjacency with the upper edge of thecard.

The card is easily aligned with the disappearing punch. For example, thearea to be notched can simply be aligned with punch aperture 30 in thepunch housing an edge of which aperture serves as an index registrablewith indicia on an edge of the card. In some instances, it is desiredthat the notch in edge 28 is always in the same place relative to thecard ends. In that instance, the card slot behind member 29 can beconveniently provided with a stop limiting lateral displacement, forexample to the right, such that the card is always correctly positionedto receive a notch from a punch in aperture 30. This would also positionthe card correctly for notching in the lower edge. It is a feature ofthe present invention, however, that any desired area of the top edge ofthe card is easily aligned with punch aperture 30 without the necessityof obscuring the area adjacent the top edgeof the card. Accordingly, thetop edge 28 can be repeatedly notched at different precise locationssimply by moving the card laterally. This motion, of course, can beeffected automatically by conventional card advancing means actuated bysuitable keys on keyboard 26 and this lateral motion is preferablysynchronized with the punch cycle. In either event, an index, such asaperture 30, may be used to indicate correct lateral position of theedge by registering with indicia on the card.

In the device illustrated in FIG. 2, the card is held for punching in aninclined position of about 50 to the horizontal. An inclination of from20 to is preferred to facilitate visualization at normal desk top leveland to assist in positioning the card adjacent surface 27.

As mentioned above, the bottom punches preferably make a generallycircular hold 33 as shown in FIG. 3. These notches may cooperate withcode bars of the type more fully described in application Ser. No.

81 1,826 which enter the notches during card selection.

The circular-type notches define a gap for the entry of the code barswhich gap is defined by points 37 and 38. In order to provide capacityfor several code bars per unit length of card thus minimizing sizerequirements for a given number of notches the gap defined by the notchshould not be very muchlarger than the width of a code bar. In thatevent, if the notch is rectilinear, there is a relatively greatlikelihood that the frictional forces between a code bar and the side ofa notch cavity will cause a card to rise relative to a code bar insertedinto the notch. Where point contact is provided as in FIG. 3, thislikelihood is reduced due to the reduced frictional forces that would beencountered. In addition, where adjacent notches are closely spaced, thecircumferences may overlap as indicated by dashed line 39 in FIG. 3.Where overlapping circular notches are formed, a generally triangulartongue 40 is formed between adjacent notches which is structurally muchstronger than the tongue formed between adjacent rectilinear notcheshaving equally close gaps.

What is claimed is:

1. An edge-notching device for punching a notch at an area in an edge ofa card comprising: a housing; means for holding a card in a fixedposition adjacent an outer surface of said housing with the area of theedge of said card to be notched being unobscured by said housing; apunch moveable between a retracted position away from the edge of a cardheld in said operable position whereby said card edge is not obscured bysaid punch and a punching position adjacent an edge of said card; meansfor moving the punch from said retracted position to said punchingposition; means for actuating the punch in said punching position tonotch the edge of a card held in said fixed position; and means formoving the punch from said punching position to said retracted position.

2. An edge-notching device according to claim 1 further including cammeans for sequentially moving the punch into its operating position,actuating said punch, and moving the punch into its retracted position.

3. An edge-notching device according to claim 1 wherein said punchcomprises a die member pivotally mounted in said housing.

4. An edge-notching device according to claim 3 wherein the card holdingmeans comprises means for positioning a card inclined with respect tohorizontal and wherein said die member is pivotable downwardly from saidretracted position in the housing to said operating position adjacentthe upper edge of the card.

5. An edge-notching device according to claim 1 wherein said cardholding means comprises means for holding a card at an angle withrespect to horizontal.

6. An edge notching device according to claim 5 wherein said housingincludes guide means permitting longitudinal movement of said cardadjacent said outer surface of said housing.

7. An edge notching device according to claim 5 wherein said housingincludes an index registrable with indicia on said card to indicate itsposition longitudinally with respect to said housing.

1. An edge-notching device for punching a notch at an area in an edge ofa card comprising: a housing; means for holding a card in a fixedposition adjacent an outer surface of said housing with the area of theedge of said card to be notched being unobscured by said housing; apunch moveable between a retracted position away from the edge of a cardheld in said operable position whereby said card edge is not obscured bysaid punch and a punching position adjacent an edge of said card; meansfor moving the punch from said retracted position to said punchingposiTion; means for actuating the punch in said punching position tonotch the edge of a card held in said fixed position; and means formoving the punch from said punching position to said retracted position.2. An edge-notching device according to claim 1 further including cammeans for sequentially moving the punch into its operating position,actuating said punch, and moving the punch into its retracted position.3. An edge-notching device according to claim 1 wherein said punchcomprises a die member pivotally mounted in said housing.
 4. Anedge-notching device according to claim 3 wherein the card holding meanscomprises means for positioning a card inclined with respect tohorizontal and wherein said die member is pivotable downwardly from saidretracted position in the housing to said operating position adjacentthe upper edge of the card.
 5. An edge-notching device according toclaim 1 wherein said card holding means comprises means for holding acard at an angle with respect to horizontal.
 6. An edge notching deviceaccording to claim 5 wherein said housing includes guide meanspermitting longitudinal movement of said card adjacent said outersurface of said housing.
 7. An edge notching device according to claim 5wherein said housing includes an index registrable with indicia on saidcard to indicate its position longitudinally with respect to saidhousing.